Heat exchange panel structure



Dec. 15, 1953 A. T. JORN HEAT EXCHANGE PANEL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 18,1952 Patented Dec. 15, 1953 Albert T. Jorn, Grayslake, IlL, assignor toBurs, gees-Manning Company, Libertyville, 111., a cor poration ofIllinois Application February18, 1952, Serial No. 272,136

'1 Claims. 257-124) This invention relates to panel ceiling structureswhich are used for heating rooms by what has come to be known as panelheating or radiant heating systems. It may, if desired, be used forcooling purposes. The invention herein described is particularlydirected to an improved form of ceiling panel and integral supporttherefor for use in such a radiant ceiling structure, providing enhancedheat transfer efliciency, simplicity, security of installation, and easeof installation and removal.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description of illustrative constructions, taken together withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showingone form of a ceiling panel embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a series of panels showing their arrangement inthe ceiling structure;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form.

of panel embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the manner of installationof the panels og Figs. 4 and5.

In accordance with the present invention, the ceiling panel or pan dealtwith in this invention has a broad, flat surface and flanges integraltherewith and extending upwardly from opposite margins of the broadpanelv surface and embodying integral pipe hooks or clamps, suitablydovetailed to provide for interrelationship with adj oining panels inthe ceiling structure, the hooks or clampsbeing provided as means forsupporting the panel and for conducting heat to or from the radiatingsurface of the panel. The panels are preferably fabricated. from sheetmaterial, such as aluminum, having a high heat conductivity capacity.The panel flanges used to support the panel in the ceiling structure areintended to engage pipes which serve both to support and heat theceiling panel units. I

Two forms of ceiling panel are illustrated in the drawings. In the formof the device shown in Figs. 1-3, the ceiling panel element thereinillustrated is a pan-like device having broad flatsurface areas I and 2,flat side flanges 3 and 4 extending upwardly at right angles along theopposite sides of the broad surfacearea of the panel, and end flanges 5and 6 extending upwardly along opposite ends of the panel. In theparticular form of the device. here illustrated, the periph eral areasof broad faces I and 2 are beveled, as at l, a V-groove 8 is impressedfrom side to side midway between the ends of the panel to form tile-likefaces, for aesthetic effects, and the broad surfaces are perforated topermit the passage of sound to suitable sound absorbing materialarranged above the panels in the ceiling structure, not shown in thedrawing.

Pipes 9 (Fig. 3) constitute the source of heat, being connected to asuitable header (not shown) to receivetherethrough a fluid heatconductor, such as water, and they also provide the elements upon whichthe panels are supported, as being hung therefrom or clamped thereto.

The principal functionof side flanges 3 and 4 is to stiffen thepanelunits so that they may be more easily handled without damage and thefinished ceiling may have a pleasing appearance.

While end flanges 5 and Galso serve to stiffen the panel structure,their principal function in accordance with the present invention is .toserve as integral hook or clampsupports for the panel unit in thesuspended ceiling and furnish heat conduction between the surfaces ofpipes 9 and the panel. The extremities of flanges 5 and 6 are formedinto hook-like elements 5a and 6a, the curvature of these elementsconforming generally to that of the surfaces of pipes 9 which theyengage in the ceiling assembly. The hook-like elements open or face. inthe same direction for ease of installation of the panel unit upon thepipes. The normal curvature of these elements is somewhat greater thanthat of the external surfaces of pipes 9 and the arcuate portions of theflanges extend over an angle of somewhat greater than whereby thehook-like; elements will resiliently clamp the pipes when installed. Theextreme edge portionsof hooked extremities 5a and 6a are desirablyturned outwardly, as at l0 for ease of installation. i

The hooked extremities 5a and 6a, of the end flanges 5 and 6 ofthepaneldo not extend the full width of the panels but are complementary so thatthe flanges of adjoining'panels do not overlie each other but dovetailupon the supporting pipes, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to approximatelyequalize the rate of transfer of heat from the pipes to;the faces .I and2 of the panel, the length. of flange hook 60, located at the middlesection of flange 6 at one end of the panel, is equal to about half ofthe width of the panel, andeach of the flange hooks 5a. at the oppositeend of the panel are equal in length toabout one-quarter of the width ofthe panel.

3 Thus, hook-like elements in are spaced apart a distance approximatelyequal to, or preferably slightly greater than, the length of hook-likeelements 6a.

The arrangement oi th panels oi! Fig. 1 to form the radiant panelceiling is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Each panel is installed insuccession by hooking the mnge llodts onto a pair of adjoining pipes,the spacing of the pipes being equal to the lengths of the panels. Thepanels are installed by proceeding in courses, the direction of work inthe series illustrated in Fig. 2 being from left to right. A portion ofside flanges 3 and 4 adjacent end flange B is cut away, as at H, topermit entry of the pipe into the hook 6a. Because the hook-likeelements 5a and 6a face in the same dimmbbth ends a the panel may beforced upon the set of adjoining pipes simultaneously with downwardmovement of the panel, the hook-like extremities 5a and So beingIorced'open slightly in this process as the panel snaps'into position byvirtue of the strain in the somewhat 'spri'ngy metal from which thepanels are fabricated.

Suitable moldings, not shown, may be employed to finish the edges of theceiling.

In the completed suspended radiant panel ceiling assembly, as used forheating, hotwater is circulated through pipes 9, and the heat flows fromthe pipes through the metal of flanges 5 and t to faces I and 2 of thepanels and is then radiated to the room below. The panel ceilingsurfacemay be decorated as desired.

If it should become necessary or any reason to remove one or more of theceilingpa-nel units after installation, it is only necessary to applysuiflcient pressure to the end of a panel adjacent flange 5 to disengagethe hook-like elements 5a from the pipe, after which the adjoining panelmay be lifted in its entirety from its position; Any number of panelsmay thusconveniently removed and subsequently replaced.

A modified form of e'eiling panel illustratedin- Figs. 4-6 is similar-tothe form above described inconneetion with Figs 1-3- in that thecurved-extremities of the end flanges directly engage the supportingheating pipes and dovetail with the end flanges of adjoiningpanels',.but difl'er'in that the flange extremities are more: in theform" 01' spring clamps opening upwardly as-distinguished from thehook-like flange extremities 5a" and which carry over the top surfacesof the pipes and must therefore be install'edb'y pulling the panelsdownwardly uponthe pipes.

Like the ceiling panel already destzrlbad the device of Figs. 4-6- is apan-like unit having/flat faces I and 2, side flanges 3 andl'and endflanges 5 and 6. The upper portions of the end flanges are divided intoa plurality of tabs or fingers, all of which are formed to oontorm tothe curva-- ture of pipes 9 which they are intended to engage. Thesetabs or spring fingers on eachend of the panel alternate in thedirection that they extend from the-end flanges-of the panelwith theresult; that the'curved tabs of -each end'provide'resilient clampsopening upwardly and are adapted to grip the opposite sides of asing-1esup orting pipe. Spring tabs 5b and 6b extend outwardly from therespective ends of the panel, while spring tabs 5c and to returnback-overthe'end portions of the respectiveends of the panel. The

upper edges of the'spring tabs may be" flared, as

shown, for ease in snapping the" panel into posl tion on the pipes.It-is'desirable to-carry' thetabs as far around the pipe as'th'e limitof elasticity 4 of the material will permit in order to insure againstslippage and in order to increase the area of contact between the panelflanges and the pipes.

To avoid interference of the structural parts of the panels as they areinstalled in the ceiling, portions of theend flanges must be cut away.In the particulariorm of panel slmwn. out-outs are provided at id toaccommodate spring tabs 6b of the immediately adjoining panel, andcut-outs 8d are provided at the other end of the panel to accommodateoutwardly extending flange tabs 5b of theimmediately adjoining panel. Itwill be understood that each cut-out is located oppos'ite trom anoutwardly extending tab and is or approximately the same width as thewidth of the opposite tab.

It will be understood that the particular arrangemnt of tabs andcut-outs shown in the drawing are merely illustrative of one suitablearrangement, many others being possible. It is desirable that thecut-outs be minimized in order to provide maximum heat bridge for thehighest possible heat conductivity. If desired, for ex ample, outwardlyextending flange tabs 5b and 6b at the middle portions of the ends ofthe panel may be eliminated, in which event the entire middle portionsof the end flanges may be formed into single continuous flange clampingelements 5e'and 6c. 1

In installing the panels of Figs. 4-6 in the sus pended ceiling,adjoining ends of a-pair of flanges are first meshed, as shown in 6,after which this meshed assembly is forced upwardly into clampingengagement with pipe 8. Work proceeds in courses throughout the lengthor width of the ceiling, the free end of a partially installed panelbeing meshed with another panel from stock to complete the installationof each panel. The final result is a securely attached panel-ceilingstructure having excellent thermal characteristics' and having thefurther advantage that the panels, or any number of them, may be pulledawayfrom the supporting pipes if necessary for access to the space abovethe ceiling.

Inventionis-claimed as-follows: 1

1. In a panel ceiling for a heat transfer sys-- tem including aplurality of spaced apart fluid conducting pipes and a plurality ofpanels arranged in a plane to form a ceiling surface, that improvementtherein in which the panels have integral flanges oppositely disposed onthe and said flanges have arcuate extremities whiche'ngage the pipesunder resilient pressure to provide both support means'for the panelfrom the pipies andheat conduction between the pipes and the panel, saidarcuate extremities of said oppositely disposed flanges beingdiscontinuous and mutuallycomplernentary whereby said arouatecxtremitiesof the flanges of adjoining' panels dovetail'upon the pipes, at leastpart of the arouate extremity'of one flange of a panel facing inthe'sam'e direction as at least part of the arcuate' extremity of theoppositely disposed flange of said panel. v f g 2. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein the arouat'e extremities of both oppositely disposedflanges are tangential to the flanges from which they extend and hookover the pipes.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein all arcuate extremities face in thesame direction.

4. The structure of claim l' wh'erein part-'01 the arcuate extremity ofeach of the oppositely disposed flanges of a panel face in adlr'ectio'nposite-t'o that'or the flrst-mentioned partoi th'e arcuate extremities,the oppositely facing parts of the arcuate extremities of each flangetogether extending slightly more than halfway around a pipe andcooperating to resiliently clamp the pipe between them.

5. In a panel for a wall or ceiling panel heating system including aplurality of spaced apart fluid conducting pipes and a plurality ofpanels arranged in a plane to form a wall or ceiling surface, thatimprovement therein in which the panel has integral oppositely disposedflanges and said flanges have hook-shape extremities facing in the samedirection and adapted to engage the pipes under resilient pressure, saidhook-shape extremities being adapted to hook over a pipe to provide bothsupport means for the panel on the pipe and heat conduction between thepipe and the panel, said hook-shape extremities extending less than thefull length of the associated flange and being mutually complementarywhereby the hook-shape extremities of the flanges of adjoining panelsdovetail upon the pipes.

6. In a panel for a wall or ceiling panel heating system including aplurality of spaced apart fluid conducting pipes and a plurality ofpanels arranged in a plane to form a, wall or ceiling surface, thatimprovement therein in which the pane1 has integral oppositely disposedflanges, a plurality of resilient arcuate tabs extending from each ofsaid flanges, each flange having tabs which respectively face inopposite directions and cooperate to form a spring clamp of slightlymore than degrees adapted to resiliently clamp a pipe and thus supportthe panel therefrom.

7. In a panel for a wallor ceiling panel heating system including aplurality of spaced apart fluid conducting pipes and a plurality ofpanels arranged in a plane to form a wall or ceiling surface, thatimprovement therein in which the panel has integral oppositely disposedflanges, each flange having a series of resilient arcuate tabs extendingfrom each of said flanges, some of said tabs on each said flangeextending back over the panel and facing outwardly therefrom and someextending outwardly from the panel and facing inwardly, the tabs of eachsaid series cooperating to form a spring clamp of slightly more than 180degrees adapted to resiliently clamp a pipe and thus support the paneltherefrom, each said flange having cut-outs located opposite the tabsextending outwardly from the panel to accommodate tabs of adjoiningpanels in a dovetail arrangement of the resilient tabs upon the pipes.

ALBERT T. JORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,726,500 Norris Aug. 27, 1929 2,075,368 Squassi Mar. 30, 19372,377,398 Brostrom June 5, 1945

